Opinion 2024 and Beyond

[The King!]

Rowbottom is still only 22. He averaged 18 disposals and 7.3 tackles this year.. If he can up his disposal numbers closer to 25 next year (which is very do-able with another year experience) .. thats him being more involved

yep agree mate, lot of upside

 

[ErrolisGoldun]

Vickery, Rankin, Magor, Sheather, Hayward, Clarke ??? Wicks if Konstanty plays small forward
Thought Cunningham had a good year, and likely to have another couple of good years left which gives time for the Swans to develop the next small defender.. Who that will be ,, Ive no idea

Vickery was recruited as a lock down small defender, agree with Harry having another year or two, was exceptional through this year, minimised the best small forwards, struggling to recall him being beaten.

There will probably be another player that comes out of left field though!!

 

[Kiama Chris]

There are a few posts in here suggesting that we need to get a small defender (such as Smooch) as Cunningham is closer to the end of his career than the beginning. I agree with this, however I don't think we ever draft or trade for that role, we usually find the player from within the list.
Smooch was drafted as a mid but we played him in defence and the rest is history. Cunningham was a wingman with pace, etc.
I had hopes that someone like Rankin may be the replacement but the ressie watchers have cooled on him. For those same watchers, who do we have that you think may be able to do the job?

Not so much from direct observation but Corey I reckon from imagination. He has fast reactions, hard, decent boot, coachable.
We were trialling Sheather down there and he looked terrific, much better than Rankin IMO, but his injuries.....
Hard to learn the job in ressies though.

 

[Jewelsbon]

Cant believe I am saying it, but if his injuries are done, we need Reid to stay

Gee's I bet that was hard for you to type

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

This is easy for me to type - NO

 

[Jewelsbon]

This is easy for me to type - NO

Hahaha never change Unc, never change!

 

[The King!]

Gee's I bet that was hard for you to type

Nah, end of the day I just want the best team, if he fits so be it .

 

[SSwans2011]

For shits, before the crippling weight of reality crushes my spirit during the trade period.

FB: Cunningham - McCartin - Rampe
HB: Lloyd - McKay - Blakey
C: Campbell - Mills - Gulden
HF: Parker - McDonald - Heeney
FF: Papley - McLean - Amartey
Foll: Grundy - Rowbottom - Warner
I/C: Sheldrick - Florent - Hayward - McInerney
EMG: Melican - Fox - Ladhams - Wicks

Melican desperately unlucky, but I think with a bit of tinkering in the pre-season and maybe some adjustments to the midfield set-up, and we'd be in a very good position for a flag tilt imo.

 

[Dan87]

For shits, before the crippling weight of reality crushes my spirit during the trade period.

FB: Cunningham - McCartin - Rampe
HB: Lloyd - McKay - Blakey
C: Campbell - Mills - Gulden
HF: Parker - McDonald - Heeney
FF: Papley - McLean - Amartey
Foll: Grundy - Rowbottom - Warner
I/C: Sheldrick - Florent - Hayward - McInerney
EMG: Melican - Fox - Ladhams - Wicks

Melican desperately unlucky, but I think with a bit of tinkering in the pre-season and maybe some adjustments to the midfield set-up, and we'd be in a very good position for a flag tilt imo.

Cunningham will have to earn it again

Maybe a Vickery comes on

Reid might be around

 

[Kiama Chris]

For shits, before the crippling weight of reality crushes my spirit during the trade period.

FB: Cunningham - McCartin - Rampe
HB: Lloyd - McKay - Blakey
C: Campbell - Mills - Gulden
HF: Parker - McDonald - Heeney
FF: Papley - McLean - Amartey
Foll: Grundy - Rowbottom - Warner
I/C: Sheldrick - Florent - Hayward - McInerney
EMG: Melican - Fox - Ladhams - Wicks

Melican desperately unlucky, but I think with a bit of tinkering in the pre-season and maybe some adjustments to the midfield set-up, and we'd be in a very good position for a flag tilt imo.

Mate I absolutely love it when we have a crack! For giggles I'll have one too, even leaving out a couple of personal favourites to achieve an objective or two.
FB: Arnold - McKay - Rampe
HB: Lloyd - McCartin - Blakey
C: Gulden - Mills - McInerney
HF: Parker - McDonald - Papley
FF: Wicks - Buller - Heeney
Foll: Grundy - Sheldrick - Warner
I/C: Florent - Campbell - Rowbottom - McLean
Sub: Roberts
So Arnold replaces Harry and McKay replaces Melican. Objective is to make the backline a bit bigger without making it too much less mobile or agile. Increase marking power substantially. I thought about leaving Melican in but I think Arnold is more agile. Fox just misses out.
Sheldrick into the midfield to improve our clearance work.
I'm highly tempted to swap Roberts and Campbell for impact.
Buller overtakes Amartey. Possibly rotate them through the season. McDonald and McLean are fit enough to play every game.
Hayward is replaced by Parker moving forward but Parker can still take the occasional rotation.
The four guys on the bench will all play full rotations - it's a 22 man team.
Horse will never select it but....

 

[Bandicoot]

It isn't a good sign that we are in that position but we have no one else who is even a chance of stepping up as an inside midfielder. It is a flaw in our recruiting in the last few years that we have had this issue and done very little to address it other than drafting Sheldrick.

It's odd though that every inside mid that has been suggested we look at trading in this year has been shot down with the notion that he would take the place of A, B or C. Issue is that A, B & C haven't got the job done this year.

 

[Bandicoot]

I feel we should have 3 emerging inside mids with Sheldrick, Roberts and Cleary. So there is a good chance that at least one of them will be able to step up.

Sheldrick seemed to get better after a run of games. Coaching staff appeared to rate Roberts highly and he was getting games at the start of the season. Cleary looked promising in the U18s and VFL. He looked very competitive with his repeat efforts and intensity at the contest.

But we could mix up our midfield in other ways. Parker could play more forward. Warner more outside. Maybe try guys like Campbell or Gulden inside in small bursts if we want more running attacking players.

I wouldn't be changing Gulden's role at all. Just let him keep doing what he's currently doing.

 

[Grand Uncle Horace]

I wouldn't be changing Gulden's role at all. Just let him keep doing what he's currently doing.

I too am wary about using Gulden more than he is currently used at clearances. Happy to see Campbell be given some opportunities.

None of our main mids are natural readers of ruck contests and the probabilities of where the ball will go. Parker and Rowy are a step behind esp at Centre Clearances. That issue is why Paps ran through CBAs as he reads contested marking pretty well similar but different.

Gus and Roberts are more natural readers and adept at sharking to a losing ruck. Yep, they have played just a handful of games but I am more confident in their ability to win first possession.

 

[Del198236]

For shits, before the crippling weight of reality crushes my spirit during the trade period.

FB: Cunningham - McCartin - Rampe
HB: Lloyd - McKay - Blakey
C: Campbell - Mills - Gulden
HF: Parker - McDonald - Heeney
FF: Papley - McLean - Amartey
Foll: Grundy - Rowbottom - Warner
I/C: Sheldrick - Florent - Hayward - McInerney
EMG: Melican - Fox - Ladhams - Wicks

Melican desperately unlucky, but I think with a bit of tinkering in the pre-season and maybe some adjustments to the midfield set-up, and we'd be in a very good position for a flag tilt imo.

Mate I absolutely love it when we have a crack! For giggles I'll have one too, even leaving out a couple of personal favourites to achieve an objective or two.
FB: Arnold - McKay - Rampe
HB: Lloyd - McCartin - Blakey
C: Gulden - Mills - McInerney
HF: Parker - McDonald - Papley
FF: Wicks - Buller - Heeney
Foll: Grundy - Sheldrick - Warner
I/C: Florent - Campbell - Rowbottom - McLean
Sub: Roberts
So Arnold replaces Harry and McKay replaces Melican. Objective is to make the backline a bit bigger without making it too much less mobile or agile. Increase marking power substantially. I thought about leaving Melican in but I think Arnold is more agile. Fox just misses out.
Sheldrick into the midfield to improve our clearance work.
I'm highly tempted to swap Roberts and Campbell for impact.
Buller overtakes Amartey. Possibly rotate them through the season. McDonald and McLean are fit enough to play every game.
Hayward is replaced by Parker moving forward but Parker can still take the occasional rotation.
The four guys on the bench will all play full rotations - it's a 22 man team.
Horse will never select it but....

You both forgot the Superstar we pick up with p4!

 

[RedBloodBlackSwan]

Thought I'd give very brief reviews of all the main contributors' seasons...

1. Warner - Hardly the backwards step others seem to see, but want him on the wing still.

2. McLean - Awesome year. Got the Most Improved Award on lock.

3. Stephens - Disappointing but think this year gave me closure with him.

4. Clarke - As expected pretty much. Was always going to need his lockdown role to be essential to the team and this year it just wasn't.

5. Heeney - I'm sure there's other circumstances but not good at all that he's had a year like this in the midst of his prime.

6. McDonald - Good learning year, continued to show promise.

7. Cunningham - A great year that tapered off a little towards the end.

8. Rowbottom - Pass.

9. Hayward - Just don't rate him. Understand his role is hard but he makes it harder for himself.

10. Francis - All things considered a good year for him. Handy depth at worst.

11. Papley - Mixed bag. Would've liked him to be a bit more prolific forward but was also an asset in the mids.

13. Florent - Tale of two halves. Great start to the year, very disappointing second half. I'm a fan but he's so frustrating.

14. Mills - Write this year off, get a full pre-season into him and build the midfield around him next year.

15. Wicks - Good year for him. Balanced his aggression out more and also showed some great skill at times.

16. Campbell - Good year for where he's at, though 25 rounds later I'm still none the wiser as to where he belongs or what sort of player he'll be.

21. Gulden - Just brilliant. One of the best individual seasons by a Swan in a few years for sure.

22. Blakey - A good year that became a great year as he closed the gap between his best and worst and added defensive strings to his bow.

23. Buddy - Legend. Thanks for everything.

24. Rampe - Really good start to the year, wasn't the same after his injuries. We wait and see where he's at come next year.

26. Parker - Rollercoaster of a season. Started out playing selfless, defensive roles, activated beast mode, looked absolutely cooked, then teased us with his forward potential.

27. McInerney - A good year but want him to take that next step I believe he's capable of.

29. Sheldrick - Promising few games in the middle of the year there.

30. McCartin - Very good year that could've been even better if not for the concussion absence.

31. Hickey - Retired at a good time, still gave all he had.

36. Amartey - Promising season though his flaws are glaring and need to be worked through.

42. Fox - A good year and I'm a massive fan, yet I think I prefer...

43. Melican - He could be a really good defender IMO if his body allows him to be.

44. Lloyd - A brilliant year but like his counterpart Cunningham, thought he tapered off a bit towards the end.

Above are just my opinions.

Great summary

 

[DeathlyAccurate]

For shits, before the crippling weight of reality crushes my spirit during the trade period.

FB: Cunningham - McCartin - Rampe
HB: Lloyd - McKay - Blakey
C: Campbell - Mills - Gulden
HF: Parker - McDonald - Heeney
FF: Papley - McLean - Amartey
Foll: Grundy - Rowbottom - Warner
I/C: Sheldrick - Florent - Hayward - McInerney
EMG: Melican - Fox - Ladhams - Wicks

Melican desperately unlucky, but I think with a bit of tinkering in the pre-season and maybe some adjustments to the midfield set-up, and we'd be in a very good position for a flag tilt imo.

Shoot me down but if Reid is able to start the season I’d have him start ahead of Amartey.

Not sure how I feel about McKay being ahead of Melican, but that gets very tricky because if you drop Cunningham then McKay and Melican don’t have the same burst that he can offer.

Grundy as the primary ruck with Ladhams as back up would be ideal.


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[DeathlyAccurate]

This is purely hypothetical, but should McLean or Logan turn in to a 50 goal forward, would we consider shifting Papley to the midfield on a more permanent basis?

Again, purely hypothetical and I know he’s a weapon up forward but he also plays like a naturally damaging midfielder when he’s in there.


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[RedBloodBlackSwan]

For shits, before the crippling weight of reality crushes my spirit during the trade period.

FB: Cunningham - McCartin - Rampe
HB: Lloyd - McKay - Blakey
C: Campbell - Mills - Gulden
HF: Parker - McDonald - Heeney
FF: Papley - McLean - Amartey
Foll: Grundy - Rowbottom - Warner
I/C: Sheldrick - Florent - Hayward - McInerney
EMG: Melican - Fox - Ladhams - Wicks

Melican desperately unlucky, but I think with a bit of tinkering in the pre-season and maybe some adjustments to the midfield set-up, and we'd be in a very good position for a flag tilt imo.

That’s a good looking best 22 with those two additions, and some good depth to call on too.

 

[tombomb]

First step. We have one captain next year. Mills.

Enough of this multi captain bs.

 

[DeathlyAccurate]

First step. We have one captain next year. Mills.

Enough of this multi captain bs.

I agree but it 100% won’t happen.


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[caesar88]

Gonna be a few delayed starts to pre-season too methinks.

 

[Kiama Chris]

This is purely hypothetical, but should McLean or Logan turn in to a 50 goal forward, would we consider shifting Papley to the midfield on a more permanent basis?

Again, purely hypothetical and I know he’s a weapon up forward but he also plays like a naturally damaging midfielder when he’s in there.


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I wouldn't because he's a 30-50 goal forward and they are very hard to come by. He does his work mainly when the ball hits the deck which the others mostly don't. They complement each other.
I get what you're saying because he reads the fall of the ball so well but I think the mids need to keep working at it.

 

[Del198236]

This is purely hypothetical, but should McLean or Logan turn in to a 50 goal forward, would we consider shifting Papley to the midfield on a more permanent basis?

Again, purely hypothetical and I know he’s a weapon up forward but he also plays like a naturally damaging midfielder when he’s in there.


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Id prefer to see Grundy rucking and the continued development of Mills, Warner, Rowbottom, Gulden, Campbell, Gus, Roberts, and players like Paps and Heeney spent 80-90% of the game in the forward line.
Both Heeney and Paps have the ability to kick 50 if they spend 80-90% time in the forwards.

 

[Adnico26Parker]

So exit meetings should be this week. I presume we'll hear about Stephens' decision this week as well?

I daresay we won't hear much on delistings or other list changes until after the Skilton Medal night, or closer to trade period?

 

[Kiama Chris]

So exit meetings should be this week. I presume we'll hear about Stephens' decision this week as well?

I daresay we won't hear much on delistings or other list changes until after the Skilton Medal night, or closer to trade period?

Might be a few who go right down to the wire depending on how trading (in particular) goes and how many draft spots we want to take in. Might need to upgrade a couple. Reid springs to mind. Maybe Clarke as well.
But otherwise I reckon so.